INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS

Why Study World Religions?We in the GTA live in the most

Culturally/Religiously diverse place on the Planet!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Religious Impulse

As Humans we are inquisitive (who we are, where we come from, where do we go?)

Early Humanity demonstrated an understanding of Supernatural Forces

Religion: An organized expression of a communities belief in the Sacred.

What are some basic elements of Religion?

1. Belief in a Supernatural Power

Theism: Belief in one personal God Polytheism: Belief in many personal Gods Pantheism: God is Nature/Nature is God Agnosticism: God can neither be

proved/disproved Atheism: Denial of Theism

2. Sacred Texts

Sacred Stories (Oral Stories of Primal/Native)

Veda (Hinduism) Tanak (Judaism) Tripitaka (Buddhism) Qur'an (Islam) Bible (Christianity) Adi Granth (Sikhism)

3. Ritual

Sacred Dance (Native Spirituality) Sacraments (Christianity) Mantras (Buddhism) Thread Ceremony (Hinduism) Bar/Bat Mitzvah (Judaism) 5 Pillars (Islam)

4. Creation Story

All the different religions have a story that explains the origins of creation/humanity

5. Organization/Structure

Hierarchical/Communal Tribal Elder Priest Rabbi Guru Monk Imam

6. Code of Conduct/Ethics

Torah/Talmud (Judaism) Canon Law (Christianity) Sharia (Islam) Precepts (Buddhism)

Other Elements of Religion

Credo (creed: statement of belief) Nicene Creed (Christianity) Shahada (Islam) Shema (Judaism)

Afterlife

Re-incarnation/Heaven/Hell/Heavens.

Australian Aborigines

World was created during the “Dreaming” Ancestors left behind their power

“Totems” Totems were natural formations (rocks

etc) Taught people language, laws, customs. People could connect to power “Rituals” Taboo: participating in a forbidden Ritual. Rituals: Scarring Back, Circumcision,

Knocked out Teeth

Yoruba

West Central Africa Olurun: Creator (no involvement with us) Orisa-nla: Created the earth

(rules/customs) Ogun: God of war Orisa: God Esu: Trickster Figure, mediates between

heaven and earth Divination: A ritual to determine your

path

Lakota (Native Spirituality)

40,000-60,000 years ago Lakota as a Model Sioux: Snake Wakantanka: Great Mysterious is actually

16 different deities. 4 is perfection Inktomi (Spider): Trickster Figure Afterlife: Old Women, Milky Way, 4 Souls Sun Dance: Axis Mundi Vision Quest: Sweat Lodge

Around the World in 80 Faiths

Test question: Pick 3 religions from the Videos and express your thoughts/opinions on how they express their belief in the sacred 15T 10C